The adult sons of a man whose body was found in a Webster County ditch Friday have each been charged with first-degree murder.
Alec Ray Jones, 26, and Nathan Thomas Jones, 21, are being held in the Webster County Jail on $1 million cash bond each.
They are accused of shooting and killing their father, Dennis R. Jones, 55, of Fort Dodge.
Dennis Jones’ body was found after a mail carrier on his route called the Webster County Telecommunications Center around 12:18 pm Friday, saying that he might have found a body in the 2100 mile of 280th Street. Authorities determined Jones had not been shot where he was found. They executed a search warrant at 1440 Second Ave. S., Fort Dodge.
The arrests followed that search.
Nathan Jones
All three men are listed as living at 1440 Second Ave. S. According to the Webster County Assessor’s Office, that property is owned by Dennis R. Jones Jr. and Shannon C. Jones.
The criminal complaint filed in Webster County District Court states: “Between April 25, 2024, and April 26, 2024, the defendant Alec Ray Jones, did unlawfully, intentionally, and with malice aforethought shoot Dennis Ray Jones Jr. numerous times at the residence of 1440 2nd Avenue South in Fort Dodge, Iowa. This intentional act resulted in the death of Dennis Ray Jones Jr. The defendant committed this act with prior planning and attempts to conceal his activity by concealing evidence to include but not limited to moving the decedent (Dennis Ray Jones Jr.) to a separate location in order to conceal the criminal actions.
“The defendant conspired, aided and abetted, and worked with his brother, Nathan Thomas Jones, in order to carry out this crime.
“The defendants made admissions to the aforementioned crime and are implicated by other witnesses. Also, physical evidence was located to support the narrative provided by your affiant.”
The complaint, signed by Officer Allie Thompson, lists “admission/statements, identified by witnesses, near scene of crime, and other physical evidence” under general probable cause in the document. It gives the window of time in which the crime was likely committed as from 11:30 pm April 25 to 12:30 am April 26.
The criminal complaint filed against Nathan Jones is identical in its claims, with the exception of the placement of the brothers’ names. He was originally charged with aiding and abetting murder in the first degree.
The case remains under investigation.
Anyone with information related to this case is encouraged to contact the Fort Dodge Police by calling the Webster County Law Enforcement Center at 515-573-2323. Anonymous tips can be submitted to Webster County Crime Stoppers by calling 515-573-1444, going online at www.wccrimestoppers.com or by texting “LEC” and the tip to 274-637.
The Fort Dodge Police Department was assisted by the Webster County Sheriff’s Office, the Fort Dodge Fire Department, the Webster County Attorney’s Office, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, the Webster County medical examiner, the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, and the Special Emergency Response Team.
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